Three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus, three-dimensional modeling apparatus, three-dimensional shape data generation system, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing three-dimensional shape data generation program

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus includes: a processor configured to obtain two-dimensional shape data representing a two-dimensional shape corresponding to a three-dimensional shape of a target to which attribute information is to be assigned, obtain the attribute information of the two-dimensional shape, and assign the obtained attribute information to at least some three-dimensional elements among plural three-dimensional elements representing the three-dimensional shape to generate three-dimensional shape data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2019-166508 filed Sep. 12, 2019.

BACKGROUND (i) Technical Field

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional shape datageneration apparatus, a three-dimensional modeling apparatus, athree-dimensional shape data generation system, and a non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing a three-dimensional shape datageneration program.

(ii) Related Art

JP2013-246782A discloses a drawing data management apparatus ofassociating attribute information to drawing data in which a graphicobject by shape information and position information and a text objectby a text string and position information are disposed in atwo-dimensional drawing space and managing the drawing data based on theattribute information, the apparatus including: a drawing spacecollation unit which refers to template data in which the text object isdisposed in a two-dimensional drawing space, and associates a drawingspace of the drawing data and a drawing space of the template data; anarea designation unit which designates an attribute extraction area forextracting the attribute information in the drawing space of thetemplate data; an attribute information extraction unit which extractsthe text object disposed in an area in the drawing space of the drawingdata to which the attribute extraction area is associated; and anattribute information assignment unit which associates the extractedtext string of the text object with the drawing data; in which thedrawing space collation unit includes an object extraction unit whichcompares the drawing data and the template data and extracts the textobject matching with the text string, and associates the drawing spaceof the drawing data and the drawing space of the template data based onposition information of the extracted text object.

SUMMARY

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate toa three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus, a three-dimensionalmodeling apparatus, a three-dimensional shape data generation system,and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing athree-dimensional shape data generation program capable of easilyassigning an attribute to each three-dimensional element as comparedwith a case where a user manually assigns an attribute to each of aplurality of three-dimensional elements representing a three-dimensionalshape.

Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosureovercome the above disadvantages and/or other disadvantages notdescribed above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments arenot required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and aspectsof the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may notovercome any of the disadvantages described above.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided athree-dimensional shape data generation apparatus including: a processorconfigured to obtain two-dimensional shape data representing atwo-dimensional shape corresponding to a three-dimensional shape of atarget to which attribute information is to be assigned, obtain theattribute information of the two-dimensional shape, and assign theobtained attribute information to at least some three-dimensionalelements among a plurality of three-dimensional elements representingthe three-dimensional shape to generate three-dimensional shape data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a three-dimensional shape datageneration system;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a three-dimensional shape datageneration apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of thethree-dimensional shape data generation apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a three-dimensional shaperepresented by voxel data;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a three-dimensional modelingapparatus;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process by athree-dimensional shape data generation program;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an attribute assignmentprocess;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of searching process;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of two-dimensional shapedata;

FIG. 10 is an example of a perspective view of a three-dimensionalshape;

FIG. 11 is an example of a perspective view of a voxel shape;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of two-dimensional shapedata including a cross-sectional view;

FIG. 13 is an example of a perspective view of another three-dimensionalshape;

FIG. 14 is an example of a perspective view of another voxel shape; and

FIGS. 15A to 15F are examples of six-sided views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a three-dimensional shape datageneration system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional shape data generationsystem 1 has a configuration in which a three-dimensional shape datageneration apparatus 10 and a management server 30 are connected via anetwork N. In addition, a three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 isconnected to the three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus 10.The management server 30 manages a component information database (DB)30A as an example of a database.

Next, a configuration of the three-dimensional shape data generationapparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 2.

The three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus 10 is configuredwith, for example, a personal computer or the like and includes acontroller 12. The controller 12 includes a central processing unit(CPU) 12A, a read only memory (ROM) 12B, a random access memory (RAM)12C, a non-volatile memory 12D, and an input/output interface (I/O) 12E.The CPU 12A, the ROM 12B, the RAM 12C, the non-volatile memory 12D, andthe I/O 12E are connected with one another via a bus 12F. The CPU 12A isan example of a processor.

In addition, an operation unit 14, a display unit 16, a communicationunit 18, and a storage unit 20 are connected to the I/O 12E.

The operation unit 14 is configured to include a mouse, a keyboard, andthe like, for example.

The display unit 16 is configured to include, for example, a liquidcrystal display or the like.

The communication unit 18 is an interface for performing datacommunication with an external apparatus such as the three-dimensionalmodeling apparatus 100 or the like.

The storage unit 20 is configured with a non-volatile storage devicesuch as a hard disc or the like and stores a three-dimensional shapedata generation program or the like. The CPU 12A reads and executes thethree-dimensional shape data generation program stored in the storageunit 20.

Next, a functional configuration of the CPU 12A will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the CPU 12A functionally includes atwo-dimensional shape data obtainment unit 50, an attribute informationobtainment unit 52, and a generation unit 54.

The two-dimensional shape data obtainment unit 50 obtainstwo-dimensional shape data representing a two-dimensional shapecorresponding to a three-dimensional shape, to which attributeinformation is assigned, of a target. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the three-dimensional shape of the target to which theattribute information is assigned is described as an example of athree-dimensional shape of a component constituting a finished product,but the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. Inaddition, an example of the component includes a screw, a gear, or thelike, but the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto.

The two-dimensional shape data is, for example, two-dimensional shapedata for design including design information in a case of designing athree-dimensional shape, or two-dimensional shape data for productionincluding production information required for producing athree-dimensional shape.

The attribute information is information related to properties of athree-dimensional shape, and may include various types of informationsuch as a color, a material, strength, and the like. For example, theattribute information may include design information in a case ofdesigning a three-dimensional shape. The design information may includevarious types of information such as information on dimensions of thethree-dimensional shape, information on tolerances, information onprocesses, information on surface properties, information on welding,information on heat treatment, information on materials, information ontechnical standards and green procurement, and the like, for example.

In addition, for example, the attribute information may includeproduction information in a case of producing a three-dimensional shape.The production information may include information for specifying thethree-dimensional shape such as a component number or the like,information on instructions in a case of producing the three-dimensionalshape (such as a modeling direction or the like of the three-dimensionalshape), information on availability of a jig used during production,information on processing methods, information on delivery times, andthe like, for example.

The two-dimensional shape data is data representing a two-dimensionalshape as the three-dimensional shape is seen from a predetermineddirection. In the present exemplary embodiment, a case where thetwo-dimensional shape data is drawing data of a blueprint in a case ofdesigning the three-dimensional shape is described as an example, butthe present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In addition,the drawing data may be electronic drawing data in which the blueprintis defined by electronic data, or may be scan data obtained by scanningthe blueprint.

The attribute information obtainment unit 52 obtains attributeinformation of the two-dimensional shape represented by thetwo-dimensional shape data which the two-dimensional shape dataobtainment unit 50 obtains. For example, in a case where the obtainedtwo-dimensional shape data is electronic drawing data, information suchas dimensions or the like included in the electronic drawing data isobtained as the attribute information. Further, in a case where thetwo-dimensional shape data is scan data, for example, an opticalcharacter recognition (OCR) process is performed on the scan data, andinformation such as dimensions or the like is obtained as the attributeinformation. In a case where three-dimensional computer-aided design(CAD) data corresponding to the two-dimensional shape data can beobtained, information such as dimensions or the like included in thethree-dimensional CAD data may be obtained as the attribute information.

The generation unit 54 generates three-dimensional shape data, that is,voxel data by assigning the attribute information obtained by theattribute information obtainment unit 52 to at least some voxels among aplurality of voxels representing a three-dimensional shape. The voxel isan example of a three-dimensional element.

FIG. 4 illustrates a three-dimensional shape 32 represented bythree-dimensional shape data (voxel data) representing athree-dimensional shape as a set of voxels. As illustrated in FIG. 4,the three-dimensional shape 32 is configured by a plurality of voxels34.

Here, the voxel 34 is a basic element of the three-dimensional shape 32and for example, a rectangular parallelepiped is used, but the voxel 34is not limited to the rectangular parallelepiped and a sphere, acylinder, or the like may be used. By stacking the voxels 34, therequired three-dimensional shape is expressed.

As a three-dimensional modeling method for modeling thethree-dimensional shape, for example, a fused deposition modeling method(FDM) for modeling the three-dimensional shape by melting and aselective laser sintering method (SLS method) of modeling athree-dimensional shape by irradiating and sintering a powdered metalmaterial with a laser beam, but another three-dimensional modelingmethod may be used. In the present exemplary embodiment, a case ofmodeling a three-dimensional shape by using the fused depositionmodeling method will be described.

Next, a three-dimensional modeling apparatus of modeling athree-dimensional shape by using three-dimensional shape data generatedby the three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus 10 will bedescribed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of the three-dimensional modelingapparatus 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment. Thethree-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 is an apparatus which models athree-dimensional shape by the fused deposition modeling method.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100includes a discharge head 102, a discharge head driving unit 104, amodeling table 106, a modeling table driving unit 108, an obtainmentunit 110, and a control unit 112. The discharge head 102, the dischargehead driving unit 104, the modeling table 106, and the modeling tabledriving unit 108 are examples of modeling units.

The discharge head 102 includes a modeling material discharge head ofdischarging a modeling material for modeling a three-dimensional shape40 and a support material discharge head of discharging a supportmaterial. The support material is used for supporting an overhangportion (also referred to as “projecting portion”) of thethree-dimensional shape until modeling is completed and is removed afterthe modeling is completed.

The discharge head driving unit 104 drives the discharge head 102 andthe discharge head 102 two-dimensionally performs scanning on an XYplane. Further, in some cases, the modeling material discharge head mayinclude a plurality of discharge heads corresponding to modelingmaterials having a plurality of types of attributes (for example,colors).

The modeling table driving unit 108 drives the modeling table 106, andthe modeling table 106 is moved up and down in the Z-axis direction.

The obtainment unit 110 obtains three-dimensional shape data and supportmaterial data generated by the three-dimensional shape data generationapparatus 10.

The control unit 112 causes the discharge head 102 to two-dimensionallyperform scanning by driving the discharge head driving unit 104 andcontrols discharge of the modeling material and the support material bythe discharge head 102 so that the modeling material is dischargedaccording to the three-dimensional shape data obtained by the obtainmentunit 110 and the support material is discharged according to the supportmaterial data.

In addition, every time the modeling of each layer is terminated, thecontrol unit 112 drives the modeling table driving unit 108 so as tolower the modeling table 106 by a predetermined lamination interval.Accordingly, a three-dimensional shape based on the three-dimensionalshape data is modeled.

Next, an action of the three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus10 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 6. The CPU 12A executes a three-dimensional shape datageneration program so as to execute a generation process illustrated inFIG. 6. The generation process illustrated in FIG. 6 is executed, forexample, in a case where an operation of the user instructs to executethe generation program. In addition, in the present exemplaryembodiment, description of the generation process on support materialdata is not repeated.

In step S100, the CPU 12A displays a menu screen (not illustrated) onthe display unit 16. In the menu screen, it is possible to select one ofan attribute assignment process of generating three-dimensional shapedata by assigning attribute information to a voxel and a searchingprocess of searching or the like the attribute information, and a userselects a required process.

In step S102, the CPU 12A determines whether or not the attributeassignment process is selected, and in a case where the attributeassignment process is selected, the process proceeds to step S104 and ina case where the attribute assignment process is not selected, theprocess proceeds to step S106.

In step S104, the attribute assignment process illustrated in FIG. 7 isexecuted. The attribute assignment process will be described below.

In step S106, the CPU 12A determines whether or not the searchingprocess is selected, and in a case where the searching process isselected, the process proceeds to step S108 and in a case where thesearching process is not selected, the process proceeds to step S110.

In step S108, the searching process illustrated in FIG. 8 is executed.The searching process will be described below.

In step S110, it is determined whether or not an operation of the userinstructs to terminate the process, and in a case where the terminationis not instructed, the process proceeds to step S102, and in a casewhere the termination is instructed, this routine is terminated.

Next, the attribute assignment process will be described with referenceto the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7. In the following, a case wheretwo-dimensional shape data which is drawing data and three-dimensionalCAD data corresponding to the two-dimensional shape data are stored inadvance in the storage unit 20, in a case where the three-dimensionalCAD data corresponding to the two-dimensional shape data is not storedin the storage unit 20, by using a known method, the three-dimensionalCAD data corresponding to the two-dimensional shape data may beestimated.

In step S200, the CPU 12A receives two-dimensional shape datarepresenting a two-dimensional shape corresponding to athree-dimensional shape, to which attribute information is assigned, ofa target. For example, a reception screen for receiving two-dimensionalshape data by an operation of the user is displayed on the display unit16, the two-dimensional shape data designated by the user is received.On the reception screen, for example, it is possible to check pieces oftwo-dimensional shape data stored in the storage unit 20, and the userdesignates required two-dimensional shape data.

In step S202, the CPU 12A obtains the two-dimensional shape datareceived in step S200 by reading the two-dimensional shape data from thestorage unit 20. FIG. 9 illustrates a design drawing 60 represented bytwo-dimensional shape data. As illustrated in FIG. 9, a plan view 60A, afront view 60B, and a right side view 60C are illustrated in the designdrawing 60.

In step S204, the CPU 12A obtains three-dimensional CAD datacorresponding to the two-dimensional shape data obtained in step S202 byreading the three-dimensional CAD data from the storage unit 20. FIG. 10illustrates a perspective view of a three-dimensional shape 62represented by the three-dimensional CAD data corresponding to thetwo-dimensional shape data representing the design drawing 60illustrated in FIG. 9.

In step S206, the CPU 12A obtains attribute information of thetwo-dimensional shape represented by the two-dimensional shape dataobtained in step S202. For example, in the design drawing 60 in FIG. 9,tolerance information is described as an example of permissible errorinformation in a predetermined location of the two-dimensional shape.Specifically, in the plan view 60A, tolerance information represented by“1”, which is a symbol of tolerance of verticality and a numerical valueof “0.02” indicating a permissible range of a parallelism error isdescribed as attribute information 63. In addition, attributeinformation 64 represented by “C5” designating a chamfering numericalvalue, attribute information 65 represented by “φ5” designating a holediameter, and the like are described.

The attribute information 63 to 65 and the like are also included in thethree-dimensional CAD data corresponding to the two-dimensional shapedata of the design drawing 60. Accordingly, in the present exemplaryembodiment, attribute information included in the three-dimensional CADdata obtained in step S204 is obtained.

In a case where the three-dimensional CAD data corresponding to thetwo-dimensional shape data does not exist, as described above, in a casewhere the obtained two-dimensional shape data is electronic drawingdata, information such as dimensions and the like included in theelectronic drawing data may be obtained as the attribute information.Further, in a case where the two-dimensional shape data is scan data,for example, an OCR process is performed on the scan data, andinformation such as dimensions or the like may be obtained as theattribute information.

In step S208, the CPU 12A converts the three-dimensional CAD data intovoxel data. That is, a three-dimensional shape represented by thethree-dimensional CAD data is converted into a set of a plurality ofvoxels. Hereinafter, the three-dimensional shape represented by voxeldata, is referred to as a voxel shape. FIG. 11 illustrates a voxel shape66 in a case where the three-dimensional CAD data representing thethree-dimensional shape 62 illustrated in FIG. 10 is converted intovoxel data.

Here, in a case where the two-dimensional shape data includes crosssection data representing a cross section of a two-dimensional shape, aninternal structure of a three-dimensional shape may be specified fromthe cross section data and voxel data representing the three-dimensionalshape with a plurality of voxels may be generated from three-dimensionalCAD data as surface data representing a surface shape of thethree-dimensional shape and the specified internal structure. FIG. 12illustrates a design drawing 70 including cross section data as anexample. Further, FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of athree-dimensional shape 72 represented by three-dimensional CAD datacorresponding to two-dimensional shape data representing the designdrawing 70 illustrated in FIG. 12. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the designdrawing 70 includes a cross-sectional view 70C in addition to a planview 70A and a front view 70B. In this case, an internal structure of athree-dimensional shape is specified from the cross-sectional view 70C,and three-dimensional CAD data is converted into voxel data. FIG. 14illustrates a voxel shape 74 in a case where the three-dimensional CADdata representing the three-dimensional shape 72 illustrated in FIG. 13is converted into voxel data.

In step S210, the CPU 12A sets a direction of the voxel shape so as togenerate outer shape data representing an outer shape as the voxel shapeis seen from six different directions. Specifically, in a case where thevoxel shape is disposed in a three-dimensional space represented by an Xaxis, a Y axis, and a Z axis orthogonal to each other, the direction ofthe voxel shape is set so that a length in the X axis direction is thelongest and a length in the Y axis direction is the shortest.

The outer shape data is data representing a so-called six-sided view asan example in the present exemplary embodiment. That is, the outer shapedata is six-sided view data representing a front view, a rear view, aleft side view, a right side view, a plan view, and a bottom view of thevoxel shape. FIG. 15A illustrates a plan view 80A, FIG. 15B illustratesa front view 80B, FIG. 15C illustrates a right side view 80C, FIG. 15Dillustrates a bottom view 80D, FIG. 15E illustrates a rear view 80E, andFIG. 15F illustrates a left side view 80F as six-sided views of thevoxel shape 66 illustrated in FIG. 11. In this case, as represented bythe plan view 80A, a direction of the voxel shape is set so that alength in the X axis direction is the longest and a length in the Y axisdirection is the shortest.

In step S212, the CPU 12A generates outer shape data, that is, datarepresenting six-sided views as illustrated in FIGS. 15A to 15F from thevoxel data. In the present exemplary embodiment, a case where allsix-sided views are generated will be described, but the presentexemplary embodiment is not limited thereto and at least one drawingamong the six-sided views may be generated. For example, in a case wherethere is a view as the three-dimensional shape is seen from threedifferent directions, it is easier to specify the shape of thethree-dimensional shape, so that data of three views of a front view ora rear view, a left side view or a right side view, and a plan view or abottom view may be generated.

In step S214, the CPU 12A generates perspective shape data representinga perspective shape when the voxel shape is seen from a predeterminedperspective direction, from the voxel data. That is, data of aperspective view of the voxel shape 66 as illustrated in FIG. 11 isgenerated. The perspective direction may be set by the user.

In step S216, the CPU 12A selects an outer shape data of an outer shapecorresponding to the two-dimensional shape represented by thetwo-dimensional shape data obtained in step S202, among the outer shapedata generated in step S214. That is, the outer shape data having anidentical shape with the two-dimensional shape represented by thetwo-dimensional shape data is selected. The determination of whether ornot the outer shape and the two-dimensional shape have the identicalshape may be performed by using a known method such as pattern matchingor the like. Further, instead of automatically selecting the outer shapedata, the user may select the outer shape data.

For example, in a case of the example in FIG. 9, the design drawing 60includes the plan view 60A, the front view 60B, and the right side view60C, so that among the six-sided views illustrated in FIGS. 15A to 15F,the plan view 80A, the front view 80B, and the right side view 80Chaving the identical shape as the plan view 60A, the front view 60B, andthe right side view 60C are selected.

In step S218, the CPU 12A generates voxel data by assigning theattribute information obtained in step S206 to a voxel corresponding tothe outer shape represented by the outer shape data selected in stepS216.

At this time, after positioning the two-dimensional shape correspondingto the attribute information obtained in step S206 and the outer shaperepresented by the outer shape data selected in step S216, the attributeinformation is assigned to the voxel.

In addition, in a case where the attribute information is assigned tothe voxel, a meaning of the attribute information is interpreted fromthe two-dimensional shape data, and the attribute information isassigned to the voxel in accordance with the meaning of the interpretedattribute information. In the example in FIG. 9, attribute informationsuch as attribute information 63 to 65 is assigned to voxels atpositions corresponding to locations to which these pieces of attributeinformation are assigned in the design drawing. For example, theattribute information 63 indicating the tolerance of verticality and theattribute information 64 indicating the chamfering numerical value areassign to, for example, voxels on a surface as the voxel shape 66 isseen from a front view, as illustrated in FIG. 11. Further, theattribute information 65 indicating the hole diameter is assigned tovoxels for one inner layer of a hole 66A in a case where the voxel shape66 is seen in a plan view, for example. Attribute information having ameaning of the hole and attribute information having a center positionof the hole may be assigned to the voxel.

In a case of material attribute information or the like, the attributeinformation may be assigned not only to voxels of the surface but alsoto internal voxels in a depth direction. Further, for example, theattribute information may be assigned to the internal voxel so that theattribute information defined according to a predetermined pattern isprojected in the depth direction. In this case, the user may select thepredetermined pattern.

In step S220, the CPU 12A stores the two-dimensional shape data obtainedin step S202, the three-dimensional CAD data obtained in step S204, theattribute information obtained in step S206, the outer shape datagenerated in step S212, the perspective shape data generated in stepS214, voxel data to which the attribute information is assigned in stepS218 in association with one another in the component informationdatabase 30A of the management server 30.

The component information database 30A is a database in which differentattribute information can be set for each of a plurality of compositecomponent classifications set in a two-dimensional matrix obtained bycombining two classifications of a functional classification, which is aclassification from a design perspective, and a construction method andmaterial classification, which is a classification from a procurementand manufacturing perspective (a productive perspective), in the samemanner as a component database described in JP5769097B, for example.That is, design information is stored as attribute information in a casewhere two-dimensional shape data is two-dimensional shape data fordesign and production information is stored as the attribute informationin a case where the two-dimensional shape data is two-dimensional shapedata for production in association with a two-dimensionally setcomplex-classification obtained by combining two classifications of aclassification by a design perspective and a classification by aproductive perspective, in the component information database 30A.

Meta information may be assigned for each voxel-shaped lump (aprojection portion or the like) and stored in the component informationdatabase 30A.

Further, in some cases, the design drawing is edited such asmodification, a change, and the like of the design drawing, for example.In this case, the drawing data before the editing and the drawing dataafter the editing may be stored in association with each other in thecomponent information database 30A. Difference data related to adifference between the drawing data before the editing and the drawingdata after the editing may be extracted, and attribute information maybe corrected based on the extracted difference data and stored in thecomponent information database 30A.

Next, the searching process will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

In step S300, the CPU 12A displays a search menu screen (notillustrated) for inputting a search condition on the display unit 16. Asthe search condition, in the present exemplary embodiment, at least oneof information of at least one of production information and designinformation, two-dimensional shape data, or perspective shape data canbe received, as an example. The user inputs a required search conditionon the search menu screen.

In step S302, the CPU 12A determines whether or not the search conditionis input, and in a case where the search condition is input, the processproceeds to step S304 and in a case where the search condition is notinput, the process proceeds to step S308.

In step S304, the CPU 12A access to the component information database30A and searches for information corresponding to the input searchcondition. For example, in a case of receiving information of any one ofthe production information and the design information, the otherinformation corresponding to the received one piece of information issearched from the component information database 30A as the searchcondition. For example, in a case where a component number included inproduction information is input as a search condition, designinformation corresponding to the component number is searched from thecomponent information database 30A.

Further, in a case of receiving two-dimensional shape data as a searchcondition, attribute information associated with the receivedtwo-dimensional shape data is searched from the component informationdatabase 30A. For example, in a case where drawing data of a designdrawing is input as a search condition, attribute information associatedwith the input drawing data is searched from the component informationdatabase 30A.

Further, in a case where perspective shape data is received as a searchcondition, three-dimensional shape data corresponding to a perspectiveshape similar to another perspective shape represented by the receivedperspective shape data is searched from the component informationdatabase 30A. For example, the other perspective shape similar to theperspective shape received as the search condition is searched by usinga known method such as pattern matching, and three-dimensional shapedata corresponding to the searched perspective shape is obtained.

Further, in a case where outer shape data is received as a searchcondition, three-dimensional shape data corresponding to an outer shapesimilar to another outer shape represented by the received outer shapedata is searched from the component information database 30A. Forexample, the other outer shape having a number of voxels with adifference from the number of voxels of the outer shape received as thesearch condition within a permissible range is searched, andthree-dimensional shape data corresponding to the searched outer shapeis obtained. Here, the permissible range refers to a range in which itis considered that the outer shapes are identical.

In step S306, the CPU 12A displays a search result searched in step S304on the display unit 16.

In step S308, the CPU 12A determines whether or not termination of thesearching process is instructed, and in a case where the termination ofthe searching process is not instructed, the process proceeds to stepS302, and in a case where the termination of the searching process isinstructed, this routine is terminated.

Next, a case of modeling a three-dimensional shape based onthree-dimensional shape data generated by the three-dimensional shapedata generation apparatus 10 will be described.

The obtainment unit 110 of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100obtains voxel data transmitted from the three-dimensional shape datageneration apparatus 10. Further, the control unit 112 causes thedischarge head 102 to two-dimensionally perform scanning by driving thedischarge head driving unit 104 and controls discharge of a modelingmaterial by the discharge head 102 so that the modeling material isdischarged according to the voxel data obtained by the obtainment unit110. Accordingly, the three-dimensional shape is modeled.

Although the present exemplary embodiment of the invention is describedby using each of the exemplary embodiments, the present exemplaryembodiment of the invention is not limited to the scope described ineach of the exemplary embodiments. Various modifications or improvementscan be added to each of the exemplary embodiments without departing fromthe gist of the present exemplary embodiment of the invention and themodified or improved form is also included in the technical scope of thepresent exemplary embodiment of the invention.

For example, in the present exemplary embodiment, a case where thethree-dimensional shape data generation apparatus 10 which generatesthree-dimensional shape data and the three-dimensional modelingapparatus 100 which models a three-dimensional shape based on thethree-dimensional shape data are separately provided, is described, butthe three-dimensional modeling apparatus 100 may be provided with thefunction of the three-dimensional shape data generation apparatus 10.

That is, the obtainment unit 110 of the three-dimensional modelingapparatus 100 may obtain the voxel data and the control unit 112executes the generation process in FIG. 6 so as to generatethree-dimensional shape data.

In the embodiments above, the term “processor” refers to hardware in abroad sense. Examples of the processor includes general processors(e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit), dedicated processors (e.g., GPU:Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Integrated Circuit, FPGA:Field Programmable Gate Array, and programmable logic device).

In the embodiments above, the term “processor” is broad enough toencompass one processor or plural processors in collaboration which arelocated physically apart from each other but may work cooperatively. Theorder of operations of the processor is not limited to one described inthe embodiments above, and may be changed.

Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, a form in which thethree-dimensional shape data generation program is installed in thestorage unit 20 is described, but the exemplary embodiment is notlimited thereto. The three-dimensional shape data generation programaccording to the present exemplary embodiment also may be provided to berecorded in a computer readable storage medium. For example, which thethree-dimensional shape data generation program according to the presentexemplary embodiment of the invention may be provided by being recordedon an optical disc such as a compact disc (CD)-ROM, a digital versatiledisc (DVD)-ROM, and the like or by being recorded in a semiconductormemory such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a memory card, andthe like. In addition, the three-dimensional shape data generationprogram according to the present exemplary embodiment may be obtainedfrom an external apparatus via the communication line connected to thecommunication unit 18.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A three-dimensional shape data generationapparatus comprising: a processor configured to obtain two-dimensionalshape data representing a two-dimensional shape corresponding to athree-dimensional shape of a target to which attribute information is tobe assigned, obtain the attribute information of the two-dimensionalshape, generate a plurality of outer shapes from the three-dimensionalshape, specify an outer shape corresponding to the obtainedtwo-dimensional shape data from the plurality of outer shapes, positionthe specified outer shape with the two-dimensional shape, identify athree-dimensional shape element to which the attribute information is tobe assigned in accordance with the positioning, and assign the obtainedattribute information to at least some three-dimensional elements amonga plurality of three-dimensional elements representing thethree-dimensional shape.
 2. The three-dimensional shape data generationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor interprets ameaning of the attribute information from the two-dimensional shapedata, and assigns the attribute information to the three-dimensionalelement in accordance with the meaning of the interpreted attributeinformation.
 3. The three-dimensional shape data generation apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the meaning is permissible errorinformation at a predetermined location of the two-dimensional shape,and the processor assigns the permissible error information to athree-dimensional element of a position corresponding to thepredetermined location.
 4. The three-dimensional shape data generationapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional shape dataincludes cross section data representing a cross section of thetwo-dimensional shape, and the processor specifies an internal structureof the three-dimensional shape from the cross section data and generatesthe three-dimensional shape data representing the three-dimensionalshape with a plurality of three-dimensional elements from surface datarepresenting a surface shape of the three-dimensional shape and theinternal structure.
 5. The three-dimensional shape data generationapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor stores, in adatabase, the two-dimensional shape data and the three-dimensional shapedata to which the attribute information is assigned in association witheach other.
 6. The three-dimensional shape data generation apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the two-dimensional shape data includescross section data representing a cross section of the two-dimensionalshape, and the processor specifies an internal structure of thethree-dimensional shape from the cross section data and generates thethree-dimensional shape data representing the three-dimensional shapewith a plurality of three-dimensional elements from surface datarepresenting a surface shape of the three-dimensional shape and theinternal structure.
 7. The three-dimensional shape data generationapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processor stores, in adatabase, the two-dimensional shape data and the three-dimensional shapedata to which the attribute information is assigned in association witheach other.
 8. The three-dimensional shape data generation apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional shape data includescross section data representing a cross section of the two-dimensionalshape, and the processor specifies an internal structure of thethree-dimensional shape from the cross section data and generates thethree-dimensional shape data representing the three-dimensional shapewith a plurality of three-dimensional elements from surface datarepresenting a surface shape of the three-dimensional shape and theinternal structure.
 9. The three-dimensional shape data generationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor stores, in adatabase, the two-dimensional shape data and the three-dimensional shapedata to which the attribute information is assigned in association witheach other.
 10. The three-dimensional shape data generation apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the two-dimensional shape data istwo-dimensional shape data for design including design information in acase of designing the three-dimensional shape or two-dimensional shapedata for production including production information required forproducing the three-dimensional shape, and the processor stores, in thedatabase, the design information as the attribute information in a casewhere the two-dimensional shape data is the two-dimensional shape datafor design and stores the production information as the attributeinformation in a case where the two-dimensional shape data is thetwo-dimensional shape data for production in association with atwo-dimensionally set complex-classification obtained by combining twoclassifications of a classification by a design perspective and aclassification by a productive perspective.
 11. The three-dimensionalshape data generation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein theprocessor receives the two-dimensional shape data, and searches for theattribute information associated with the received two-dimensional shapedata from the database.
 12. The three-dimensional shape data generationapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processor generatesperspective shape data representing a perspective shape when thethree-dimensional shape is viewed from a predetermined perspectivedirection from the three-dimensional shape data, and stores, in thedatabase, the generated perspective shape data and the three-dimensionalshape data in association with each other.
 13. The three-dimensionalshape data generation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein theprocessor generates outer shape data representing at least one outershape among outer shapes as the three-dimensional shape is viewed fromsix different directions, and stores, in the database, the generatedouter shape data, the two-dimensional shape data, and thethree-dimensional shape data to which the attribute information isassigned in association with one another.
 14. The three-dimensionalshape data generation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein theprocessor receives information of any one of the production informationand the design information, and searches for the other informationcorresponding to the received information from the database.
 15. Thethree-dimensional shape data generation apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the processor receives the perspective shape data, and searchesfor three-dimensional shape data corresponding to another perspectiveshape similar to the perspective shape represented by the receivedperspective shape data from the database.
 16. The three-dimensionalshape data generation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein theprocessor selects an outer shape corresponding to the two-dimensionalshape from outer shapes represented by the generated outer shape data,and assigns the attribute information to a three-dimensional elementcorresponding to the selected outer shape.
 17. The three-dimensionalshape data generation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein theprocessor receives the outer shape data, and searches forthree-dimensional shape data corresponding to another outer shapesimilar to the outer shape represented by the received outer shape datafrom the database.
 18. A three-dimensional modeling apparatuscomprising: a modeling unit configured to model a three-dimensionalshape based on three-dimensional shape data generated by thethree-dimensional shape data generation apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the modeling unit comprises a discharge head.
 19. Athree-dimensional shape data generation system comprising: thethree-dimensional shape data generation apparatus according to claim 1;and a management server that manages a database in which two-dimensionalshape data representing a two-dimensional shape corresponding to athree-dimensional shape of a target to which attribute information isassigned and three-dimensional shape data generated by thethree-dimensional shape data generation apparatus are stored inassociation with each other.
 20. A non-transitory computer readablemedium storing a three-dimensional shape data generation program causinga computer to execute a process, the process comprising: obtainingtwo-dimensional shape data representing a two-dimensional shapecorresponding to a three-dimensional shape of a target to whichattribute information is to be assigned; obtaining the attributeinformation of the two-dimensional shape; generating a plurality ofouter shapes from the three-dimensional shape; specifying an outer shapecorresponding to the obtained two-dimensional shape data from theplurality of outer shapes; positioning the specified outer shape withthe two-dimensional shape; identifying a three-dimensional shape elementto which the attribute information is to be assigned in accordance withthe positioning; and assigning the obtained attribute information to atleast some three-dimensional elements among a plurality ofthree-dimensional elements representing the three-dimensional shape.